Software could ease abuse reporting concerns

Widespread confusion amongst childcare professionals over who to inform when they have concerns about a vulnerable child is revealed in a survey conducted for collaborative software provider, Liquidlogic.

The research was conducted by YouGov to review the effectiveness of the process for childcare professionals to identify and report early signs of children at risk. Liquidlogic has developed software, which makes it easier to monitor and protect vulnerable children.

The survey found that 61% of respondents had experienced a niggling concern or seen an early warning sign that a child may be exposed to domestic violence.

Of the 61% who had concerns, 98% said they did report the case, but were unsure who to inform and a lack of co-ordinated response to the concerns raised.

Problems children can experience include recurrent bruising, bullying, severe depression and behavioural difficulties.

The company’s integrated children’s system (ICS) supports care workers involved in providing services to children identified as being at risk and can help prevent child protection tragedies, by allowing professionals to view and exchange information.

Liquidlogic’s co-founder, Denise Harrison, said: “Care practitioners are exposed to early warning signs of domestic abuse every day. For example, teachers may notice a child is withdrawn or behaving in a more aggressive manner; while a doctor may come into contact with the mother attending A&E with suspicious or re-occurring injuries.

“However, alone, these niggling concerns may not raise alarm bells, but pieced together they form a picture of concern. If vulnerable children are to be protected from the risk of domestic abuse, it is only through co-ordinated information from all professionals that the completed jigsaw can be formed, enabling care professionals to nip the threat of domestic violence in the bud.”

Liquidlogic say that local authorities can use its software to work in collaboration with partners – such as schools, hospitals and the police – and ensure cases are dealt with quickly.

The research found that feedback to queries came relatively quickly in the majority of cases, with 30% of concerns being answered within a day and a further 41% within a week – a worrying 8% of queries took between a week to six months to receive a response. 71% saw this timeframe as acceptable and in the instance of delay, the lack of an available case history of a child across localities is likely to account for this discrepancy.

Liquidlogic have developed the system in line with the government’s Every Child Matters initiative, which plans to introduce an information sharing index (IS Index), in all areas of England by the end of 2008.

The IS Index will enable childcare practitioners to share information, particularly in identifying low level concerns that could be easily missed. The aim is to avoid children slipping through the protection net, particularly when they move schools or areas.

Of the 572 UK doctors, childminders, primary and secondary school teachers surveyed, 61% felt that such a system would be useful in tackling issues connected to vulnerable children, with 79% of doctors unaware of the plans.

Liquidlogic hope to see more authorities looking to take up the service which aims to prevent scandals like the torture and murder of Victoria Climbie. Eight-year-old Victoria died from abuse and neglect in 2000, despite the fact that she was seen by dozens of social workers, doctors and police officers in the months before her death.

The ICS was recently implemented at Slough Borough Council, as reported on E-Health Insider Primary Care earlier this month http://www.ehiprimarycare.com/news/item.cfm?ID=2381.

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Links

Liquidlogic – www.liquidlogic.co.uk